Indigenous Climate Action Grants

The Indigenous Climate Action Grant is a pilot program created to support the implementation of the City’s Transform TO NetZero Strategy (2021.IE26.16), which set an ambitious target to reduce community-wide emissions in Toronto to net zero by 2040. As part of the Strategy, the City is committed to working with Indigenous rights holders and urban Indigenous communities to share knowledge and learnings.

In 2022, the City of Toronto launched the Reconciliation Action Plan that acknowledges and affirms that the city resides on lands and waters that have been occupied and stewarded by Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial. Indigenous climate action is led by Indigenous Knowledge Holders, water protectors, land defenders, and food security advocates from across Turtle Island. The Indigenous Climate Action Grant program encourages the Indigenous community to determine what climate action is needed and to take meaningful action to reduce emissions and realize the co-benefits of a healthy, thriving, and equitable city.

Eligible climate-based and environmental projects include initiatives that:

• Increase opportunities for hands-on learning, especially in getting back to the land, promoting green initiatives, and supporting grassroots collectives with Indigenous job creation
• Enhance and strengthen the City of Toronto’s engagement with the Indigenous community
• Advance social equity, including gender equity and 2SLGBTQ+ initiatives
• Improve access to health-care and Mind-Body-Spirit wellness for the Indigenous community
• Protect low-income residents against climate risk and vulnerabilities
• Support poverty reduction and increase support for Indigenous harm reduction
• Increase access to Indigenous knowledge systems that support inter-generational learning including language programs and land-based learning programs
• Develop Indigenous place-making projects that promote food security, the growing of traditional medicines and/or ecological biodiversity
• Develop land-based educational activities/curriculum including culture camps, Two-eyed Seeing learning programs, and workshops/events that increase knowledge of Indigenous law systems, sustainability issues, and climate-related impacts
• Support the health of Lake Ontario/the Great Lakes or riverine systems, and encourage swimmable, drinkable and fishable freshwater systems for future generations

Examples of possible projects

• Indigenous place-making projects that promote food security, the growing of traditional medicines and/or ecological biodiversity
• Educational activities, events, and workshops including cultural activities
• Initiatives that promote waste reduction (i.e. upcycling workshops, etc.)
• Renewable energy projects for community spaces
• Intergenerational teaching activities, especially those that promote cultural and/or land-based learning opportunities for youth
• Place-making initiatives including public art displays that promote Indigenous climate justice
• Water preservation education and/or public events that support healthy water systems including water walks, ceremonies, etc.
• Supports for harm reduction including capacity building activities
• Active transportation initiatives, such as bike mechanic workshops for the 2SLGBTQ+ community or ride to work campaigns for Indigenous women, 2S+ and girls
• Other activities that contribute to the objectives of the Indigenous Climate Action Grant program

Funding Stream 1: Up to $7,500

The Indigenous Climate Action Grant will utilize a place-based approach to support Toronto’s Indigenous community members across the city of Toronto.

Who is eligible?

• Grassroots groups/collectives and Indigenous-led community projects (of 2 or more people).
• Groups must have at least 50 per cent leadership who have First Nations, Inuit or Métis ancestry. Members of the group must live in separate households.
• Applicants must have a physical address in Toronto (M postal code). Indigenous-led, culturally-based programming that occurs outside of the GTA can be supported with this grant if they have a physical address in Toronto.
• Groups that previously received a grant from the City can apply for the Indigenous Climate Action Grant in 2023. Please contact us if you received a grant for 2022 and have yet to complete your final report.

Not Eligible

• Groups, collectives or community projects operating on a for-profit basis

Funding Stream 2: Up to $20,000

This funding stream is for:

• Indigenous-led grassroots collectives, and individuals/community projects that have a trustee (Indigenous or non-Indigenous trustee).
• Non-profit initiatives/organizations that have an Indigenous project lead(s) directly leading project development and implementation.

Who is eligible?

• Groups must have at least 50 per cent leadership who have First Nations, Inuit or Métis ancestry. Members of the group must live in separate households.
• Grassroots groups and collectives can operate as a trustee for their own funds if they have a bank account in the name of their group/initiative/collective.
• All initiatives must be Indigenous-led; i.e. have a project lead who is Indigenous and the project must be created to serve the external Indigenous community.
• For non-Indigenous non-profits, an Indigenous council or committee must be devised to guide the project and to ensure it serves the needs of the community. This can include the Indigenous project lead or group leading the project.

Eligibility criteria

• Applicants must have a physical address in Toronto (M postal code). Indigenous-led, culturally-based programming that occurs outside of the GTA can be supported with this grant if they have a physical address in Toronto.
• Grassroots groups or collectives and non-profit organizations must have a bank account in their group name to receive the funds or have a trustee. See trustee details in the section below.
• Groups that previously received grants from the City of Toronto can apply for the Indigenous Climate Action Grant in 2023. Please contact us if you received a project grant for 2022 and have yet to submit your final report.

Not Eligible

• Groups, collectives or community projects operating on a for-profit basis

All grant recipients will be asked to sign a document to acknowledge the City of Toronto Guide to Political Activities for City Funded Groups and the Declaration of Compliance of Anti-Harassment/Discrimination City Policy.

What Can Be Funded

Examples include:

• Honoraria for Elders and Knowledge Keepers
• Virtual meeting software/hardware, permit fees, space rental, liability insurance for your event/activity
• Workshop expenses and facilitation fees
• Art supplies
• Skilled labour (i.e. hiring a contractor to build raised garden beds, etc.)
• Communications and promotion (e.g. flyers, posters, printing)
• Honoraria, food expenses, transit and personal protective gear for volunteers
• Training and training expenses
• Local travel expenses, PRESTO tickets or TTC tokens, taxi receipts, bus transportation
• Travel expenses to support programming run by Indigenous-led projects located in the city of Toronto that are providing culturally-based programming outside the boundaries of Toronto
• Equipment rentals
• Small equipment purchases (all equipment purchased must remain within the community after the project ends)
• Interpretation and translation
• Administrative partner (trustee) fees (up to 15 per cent of the grant amount)
• Consultant fees (knowledge translation, design, communications, etc.)
• Fees for networking or professional development events
• Other expenses on a case-by-case basis

The City encourages the hiring of Indigenous staff, consultants, labourers, interpreters and translators, and the support of Indigenous-owned businesses.

Items Not Eligible for Funding

Examples include:

• Activities that do not follow current Toronto Public Health guidelines
• Current/ongoing program costs: costs to run your current programs/ services
• Costs associated with the regular operation of your organization, such as current staff salaries (unrelated to project) office rental, utilities, computer equipment, phones, fax, internet, accounting services, insurance, etc.
• Income-generating activities for staff or group members (unrelated to project)
• Mass market advertising campaigns
• Fees paid to project partners (except trustee fees)
• Costs to maintain activities beyond the funding term
• Award ceremonies, banquets, receptions, annual general meetings, sport tournaments
• Religious activities/services
• Political activities
• Alcohol
• Land acquisition, lease or rental
• Purchase of gasoline or diesel vehicles (cars/trucks/farming equipment)
• Fundraising events, or donations to charitable causes
• Lobbying or advocacy on behalf of for-profit entities
• Disbursement of funds to provide additional grants to other parties
• Conference registration and travel fees associated with conference attendance
• Personal vehicles and parking
• Reserve funds, debt repayment, deficit funding
• Capital costs (i.e. building repairs, renovations, water service, etc.)
• Core operating staff salaries and core operating costs of an incorporated non-profit organization.

Project Budget Template

• Rolling submissions open – June 8, 2023
• Information Session – June 28, 2023, 6:30 p.m. View recording of the session.
• Application deadline 1* – July 18, 2023 at noon
• Application deadline 2* – September 15, 2023
• Projects begin – Summer 2023 or later; upon approval
• Project completion, report submission and evaluation – Summer 2024

Dates for information sessions will be added here. Timeline is subject to change.

*Applications will be reviewed in two batches. You can submit an application any time prior to the final deadline on September 15.

For more information on the key dates and upcoming information sessions, or to ask questions about the grant program, please contact Miranda Black, Project Lead, Indigenous Climate Action, Environment & Climate Division at Miranda.Black@toronto.ca.

Please contact us for support in developing your idea, networking with community members, or book a visioning session to help turn your climate action dream into a reality. If you have received City of Toronto funding previously, please reach out to us before filling out your application. All questions are welcome!

Indigenous Climate Action Grants Fact Sheet

We are happy to announce that we have formed the Indigenous Climate Action Review Committee for 2023.

On the committee we have our Elder, Vivian Recollet, Turtle Clan from Wikwemikong unceded territory;

Maria Simonelli, Brunswick House FN, Oji-Cree and Italian descent, Community Leader;

Crystal Sinclair, Nehiyaw, Member of Fisher River Cree Nation, Community Leader;

Shar-Dey Phillips-Walker, Lac Seul First Nation, Community Leader;

Zephyr McKenna, Munsee Delaware First Nation and Alderville First Nation, Indigenous Youth;

Samuel Wong, Metis with family roots in Calahoo, St. Albert and Lac St. Anne AB, Indigenous Youth; and

Lyla Hatt, Peskotomuhkati Nation at Skutik and Mixed Ancestry, Indigenous Youth.

Candidates have been selected to sit on the Indigenous Climate Action Grants Review Committee based on the following considerations:

• Is First Nations, Inuit and/or Metis
• Has lived experience and/or experience working within Toronto’s Indigenous community
• Is actively involved within the Indigenous Community and is recognized by other Indigenous Community members as such
• Has an understanding of the Indigenous Climate Action Grants process
• Has an interest in working with the Climate Action Team of the Environment and Climate division on ensuring the success of the Indigenous Climate Action Grants program
• Diversity of age, gender and Nationhoods to ensure representation of many Indigenous Nations who live in Toronto

A trustee is an incorporated not-for-profit organization with audited financial statements and the financial systems in place to administer grant funds.

A trustee will distribute the funding according to the approved project budget. Trustees may also provide additional support to funded projects, such as project management and mentorship. Non-profit applicants in Stream 2 can act as their own trustee, provided they fulfill all the requirements listed below.

Eligible Trustee Organizations

Trustee organizations must meet all of the following eligibility criteria and be approved by City staff to act as your trustee:

• Agree to take responsibility for the management of financial and project activities proposed by the applicant organization; and
• Report on the use of grant funds to the City and maintain documentation for audit purposes.
• Be an incorporated not-for-profit organization with recent audited financial statements;
• Demonstrate effective management and administrative capacity;
• Be based in the city of Toronto (head office must be located in Toronto and a majority of programs and services are located in Toronto) or be an urban off-reserve Indigenous-led organization;
• Be accountable to the community it serves through an elected Board of Directors or executive and must represent the community it serves;
• Have existed for at least one year;
• Be in good standing with the City of Toronto (up to date on all requirements for City funds the organization may have received in the past);
• Collaborate with other service providers and community groups;
• Demonstrate a clear separation between religious and community service functions (if religious activities are provided by the organization);
• Comply with the City of Toronto Anti-racism, Access and Equity Policy;
• Have a service mandate related to the funded project;

Roles & Expectations of the Trustee

The trustee organization:

• Holds financial authority and a position of trust and responsibility for the project grant funds;
• Maintains proper fiscal oversight including using their existing financial systems and policies when dispersing the grant funds to your group (i.e. petty cash disbursements, honoraria, invoice payment, expense reimbursements etc.);
• Has overall legal responsibility for the grant funds;
• Provides assurance that all funding received will be spent only for the purposes outlined in the Trustee Agreement and in the Letter of Understanding and according to the approved project budget;
• Acts as the project’s financial and administrative manager for the duration of your project;
• Ensures compliance with accountability and legislative requirements; and
• Signs the Letter of Understanding issued by the City with the grant recipient group. The Letter of Understanding outlines the terms and conditions of the grant funding.

Trustee Fees

Trustee organizations may charge fees for their services. Fees of up to 15 per cent of the total project funding are eligible for funding.